Chapter 825: To War, o’Emperor
Lumina guided Asmodeus to the large, blood-red throne with an elegant velvet cushion and jet-black backrest. He peeked at her expression before twirling with an exaggerated motion, his single-shoulder mantle dancing through the air with soft ripples as he dropped.
Creak!
He rested both arms on the smooth armrests while overlooking the massive main halls.
There, he ganced at a multitude of faces, from his friends in the Grigorian royal family and the knights. Simon sat with his daughter beside him, while Paul also brought a young man who resembled him, though with hair and stockier muscles.
Beside them, the royal guard and many of his wives’ families, from Avandar and Alan seen earlier, to the children whom people once thought to be another man’s.
However, their faces now carried an uncanny resemblance to a younger Alan and Alice.
’To think the issues once at the heart of my survival are now a trivial afterthought.’
Asmodeus drew a circular shape atop the wood with his finger, shifting his gaze to the beast empire’s delegation, noticing his wife, Yumiko, wearing a unique hybrid outfit that combined leather tribal armour with a salmon-pink kimono.
Yuina, however, led the entire group in an elegant green-and-white royal gown.
Her reign as the empress would soon end, so she started using her time to let Ryusei and the other children meet the higher echelons of the Beast Empire.
The focus remained on Aurelia, Tsukihana, Ravena, and Ryusei, as they were likely to become the heirs to Asmodeus and his future empire.
’Though I haven’t specifically said that...’
Once things became political, even the most ardent lovers could lose their feelings; thus, he never denied the possibility that one of his other children might win the throne, be it Erika’s son, Alice’s, or one of his daughters with Lumina.
But he made sure each wife knew to settle fights over these things between themselves.
He wanted his children to have a healthy relationship; of course, he couldn’t make them love or like each other, but he did want to avoid hatred and animosity.
"Phew."
He sighed, noticing the dozens of gazes all focused on him, waiting for his gesture to start the meeting.
’Let’s get it over with.’
His right hand tapped the wood as he lifted his left palm, slowly pushing it down.
The chattering voices and noise soon lowered along with his movements, as Lumina and Velvet, who stood at the base of the throne, knelt before approaching him.
What made Asmodeus feel bitter was that the two women stopped before the stairs and bowed to him, despite being his wives.
"Your Majesty, Emperor Asmodeus."
"Greetings, Your Majestic Radiance." Velvet liked to change how she called him each meeting, as if competing with Lumina as the respective commanders of the Knights and Royal Guard.
The two then parted, standing on either side as the delegates for each nation sent a single person. It wasn’t until it came to the elves that Asmodeus paused.
’Hmmm?’
A strange, petite elf stood in the most delicate silk dress, with an almost translucent texture and a dark underskirt which fluttered as she stood before him without bowing; something fluttered inside his three hearts upon meeting her gaze.
In the light, her skin took a beautiful chocolate hue, and then, in the darkness, it became a delicate cream white.
’This woman, why does she seem familiar?’
Half her hair was pure white, the other jet black.
His mind raced through memories and people; he couldn’t forget such a worldshaking beauty... now with her unique traits. That’s when his pupils shrank, gripping the edge of his throne, he almost stood up.
"Is that you, Aria... Stella?!"
This time it was the woman’s face that beamed, her eyes and mouth opened wide as she suddenly knelt before him, her face almost touching the floor. "I... I’d thought you forgot all about us, it’s been so long... our precious and beloved hero!"
Aris and Stella.
The dark elf and high elf goddesses who protected the elven nation and all things related to the world tree.
Both were once but sacrifices, able to ascend to godhood through their devotion as the core of each world tree, being reborn as a single entity.
Known as the combination of their names.
"It’s my fault, Aristella."
A playful voice interrupted him as he was going to apologise.
"Fufufu~ Emperor of mankind, elves, beastkin and demons do not apologise or doubt yourself. We have been beside you from the moment you took your oath and became the guardian of these lands."
Her voice suddenly deepened as the light faded and her fair skin bloomed once more, like a flower that blossoms between night and day.
"Such a beautiful woman... is she really a goddess?" Avandar muttered.
"Brother, be careful, those women are stronger than our entire army." Alan joked.
Yuina glanced silently, but Yumiko watched the two elves while biting her lips. "Another one, I’m sure... that’s going to be another rival..."
Many people murmured and gossiped, and Asmodeus heard it all.
Though he agreed.
The two women alternated their voices with each line, switching between Aris and Stella as they floated across the main hall. She danced and listed the battles and dangers he faces. It was flattering and quite nostalgic to hear his old tales, even some of his failures.
"WE alone have seen the sacrifices and pain you have endured."
"There is no denying, you are the hero of this continent, he who overcame adversary."
"The champion of the world tree."
The beautiful woman’s figure almost seemed to split, with a ghostly pale visage overlapping the dark-skinned beauty.
"I am here in place of Ar’Sarina. The queen has promised us something, and thus we came to see you, O’Emperor."
Asmodeus felt a slight confusion as the goddess grew more serious; her eyes met his with a strange sense of purpose.
He could only return with a serious and honest response.
"What do you seek, protector of the elves and twin goddesses of the world tree?"
Suddenly, Aristella became a little strange.
She remained frozen before slowly raising her gaze to meet his.
"Esteemed Emperor, the land is once again in peril, the world tree’s dwindle in power and a great threat... enough to shatter the very balance of this small world."
"Yeah, I know... the beast in the ocean is stirring—"
"Not that paltry little pet, Your Majesty!" Aristella shouted, her voice vibrating through the air as all the glass shook, almost shattering into pieces. "F-Forgive me... I did not mean to become so aggressive, but you misunderstood that the enemy you face is the Abyssal beneath, but it’s not."
Her body shifted once again, the calm Aria taking the lead as she reached out to Asmodeus, a cool, calming breeze blowing through his hair.
"Your enemy is the false Emperor of Mankind, the usurper of power and slayer of gods.... Self-Proclaimed God Emperor Tharion Elbrecht
’...?’
Asmodeus froze for a moment in confusion.
He’d never considered the emperor on the mainland his opponent, but for a goddess like Aristella to bring this up, it shocked him.
’Not the Abyssal, with the power to disease the seas... but a man, a single man?’
He couldn’t help but ask through clenched teeth.
"Do you underestimate me, Goddess?"
However, the beautiful goddess shook her head and softly stepped closer, her surroundings never once changing to an affectionate, comforting aura.
"Do not take offence at my words, beloved hero, for the man himself is not your enemy. The enemy comes from the dark, hand guiding this inevitable clash."
’Eh?’
Aristella’s cold brown fingers caressed his cheeks as she leaned forward, revealing the delicate pink buds atop her small bust.
"The enemy is numerous, without emotion or care for the planet. All bound to the will of a supreme being, beyond any that you have encountered."
’The Arbiters... and their Creator?’
Her atmosphere transformed, and the cooling breeze became a hot, searing flame that seeped into his flesh. She glanced down at him with fierce red eyes, her pale skin glossy under the darkness.
"You must go to war, O’Emperor."
"Face the enemy, show them your true might and once his false angels descend, smite them down and draw him from his perch."
"Once brought down to this world, we shall aid you, with our hearts, bodies and souls."
Although he understood this was her plea, the two goddesses helped him solidify his grasp on the Elves and the power he now controlled.
However...
"What can you two alone do against that..."
"No."
Aristella shook her head before holding up her hand.
On the back of her hand, countless strange tribal markings flickered with a faint light.
One, two, three... they gathered in the air until twelve hovered.
"Impossible?!" Serena’s shout came from beside him.
Until now, she had remained silent, watching the familiar little deity seducing her husband. But once she revealed that trump card, even the former goddess of the moon couldn’t sit still.
"Have they agreed!? The council of twelve would never agree to this!"
Aristella glanced at Serena, then gave a faint smile.
"Dear sister, things have changed." Then shifted her gaze back to Asmodeus, "Thanks to the hero who united the lesser gods, and all those beneath them. We now have a voice, one strong enough to make them move."
"But the vote..."
"Sister, the vote ended the moment he managed to survive and subordinate one of the Arbiters... Isn’t that right?"
Aristella turned to Nerim, whose eyes shimmered an unnatural red when her eyes were supposed to be blue.
"Tsk... how did you find me?!"
The goddess just spread her arms. "Do you think a minor Arbiter, one that cannot forget such a primative feeling, would compare to a goddess?"
"Heh, then how about I call that stiff and brainless Ein here?"
"You!?" Aristella’s voice cracked as she recoiled slightly.
It seemed Mia’s threat worked, but also gave Asmodeus a glimpse into the power structure.
He glanced at the faces, his children crawling around, bored at the situation and then his wives, who all peered back with pale faces.
’Ah... they need me to stand tall, to remain firm and unbreakable again.’
Asmodeus slowly closed his eyes, trying to adjust his mind and, instead of rushing to answer or stop the current situation.
He thought hard about what he wanted.
When he finished, his aura exploded in all directions in a dense wave of sheer power, suffocating most people in the room and bringing their attention back to him.
Even the goddess struggled to retain her calm.
"Aristella, I..."